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Christmas
Tree Quandary

Are Christmas trees vegan?

Christmas trees are vegan insofar as
they do not involve the direct suffering or slaughter
of sentient life. From an environmental perspective,
however, we need to weigh a variety of factors to determine
if they are a sound choice. Christmas tree lots take
up vast swaths of land that could be used for habitat.
They also imbalance ecosystems by displacing native
flora and fauna. Furthermore, Christmas trees are typically
pitched as garbage or run through the wood chipper after
just a couple weeks of being cut down. This may not
be considered a waste of animal life, but it is definitely
a waste of plant life.

Some people purchase live trees with
bundled roots so they can plant them in the ground after
the holiday season. Although not ideal, this is an excellent
compromise. If a vegan is insistent on having a live
tree, this is the most prudent approach. Alternatively,
purchasing or making an "artificial" tree that can be
used year after year is perhaps the best solution of
all from both a vegan and environmental standpoint.